Manufacture of rayon and the like



- o. OPPENLAENDER 2,107,451

MANUFACTURE OF RAYON AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1935 Feb. 8, 1938.

INVENTOR I l 6 M Y 00A If BY v a 2 53 J7 J8- 9 6 6/ 62 63 v ATTORNEYS 45 surfaces of the rotors increases from a. minimum collecting" 5 50 goes final stretching (point of maximum desired 1 is a side elevation an apparatus 50 so be oblique to each other but in parallel planes, apparatus embodying the invention; 55

Patented Feb. s, 1938 I 2,107,451

REISSUED 99151942 v UNITED" STATESMMPATENT OFFICE L 2,107,451 MANUFACTURE or RAYON AND THE mm Oskar Oppenlaender, Rome, Ga., assignor to Tubize Chatillon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 28, 1935, Serial No. 42,604

7 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) This invention relates to the manufacture of in which case one (or both) of the rotors is so rayon and the like, and more particularly to theformed that its peripheral surface progressively operation of stretch-spinning, wherein a. semiincreases from a relatively small diameter adjacoagulated product, for example artificial silk, cent the point of initial stretching to a maxi- 5 artificial horsehair, artificial human hair, ribmum diameter adjacent the point of maximum 5 bons, casings, etc., is placed under substantial stretching. This may be accomplished by emstretching tension in its path from spinnerette ploying a rotor of conical form or one comprising or nozzle to a collecting device. a plurality of cylindrical sections that progress- The method of the invention contemplates a sively increase in diameter in the direction of the 10 step-wise stretching of rayon filaments and the point of maximum stretching. The rotors may 10 example thread (Composed f a p ur y have diverging axes of rotation, in which case of filaments) under substantial tension with a their surfaces between the points of initial and resulting improvement in e u or ty of dermaximum stretching are preferably cylindrical. nler, tensile strength and dyei Pr p r i In To accomplish a contraction of the thread after accordance With a Preferred Practice Of the the desired maximum stretching has been at- 15 vention, the filaments are passed froma spinnertamed, one or both of the rotors is preferably ette and combined into a thread which is looped tapered from its maximum diameter. The inv a p li y f power-driven rotors so concrease in distance between the opposite threadst -lcted and arranged that the loop advan e contacting peripheral surfaces of the rotors from 0 a ne the r t rs wit in r asin t si n. In the point of initial stretching to the point of feet a p ty of l ps is f m d. a h su dmaximum stretching determines the extent of mg D being under S a tension in regardv stretching, and the decrease in distance from the rotor Surface tension as t0 D point of maximum stretching to shorter distances sl ppa e t read is m t a stretched as adjacent the rotor ends determines the extent it advances, and as a result of the operation a of tr ctio The apparatus thus makes 1105- 25 S pe and Substantial Stretching is effectedsible a progressive stretching of the thread to a The t ad thus str t h d may. if desired, be. maximum and controlled contraction. fed to a u t Winding bobbin other PD The conical surfaces of the rotors may be priate collecting device. In its mo e p et serrated to prevent lateral sliding of the thread 0 aspects, the invention contemplates step-wise and t conical nd portion of one rotor is prefand ub t t a y st c t e t ead. while in erably grooved to facilitate the disposal of thread a semi-coagulated or plastic state, and then percollected thereon during dofflng. The axes of the mitting the thread to contract under tension, rotors are angularly displaced sufiiciently to imprior to the subsequent collecting operationpart the desired advancement or spacing of th The apparatus of the invention includes a pluthread loops upon the rotors 1n t preferred mmy of power'dnven rotors for imparting practice of the invention. the rotors are of substepwlse and Substantial stretching t9 the rayon stantially the same diameters and rotate at the thread and the like as it travels from a spinnersame speed (R ette to a suitable collecting device. A preferred The apparatus of the invention obviates thread 40 form of apparatus comprises two rotors so conguides such as rods, rollers, etc and prevents 40 structed 0r mounted that thread looped thereon adverse and irregular interference of the stretch- 1 advance alon the surfaces thereof and :t etch in steps as 1% advances. The distance bemg operatmn upon the preceding step or filament tween the opposite thread-contacting peripheral extrusion and-upon the subsequent step of thread distance adjacent a point where the loop 'of The principles if i l gzgg zgg ggggfi thread from the spinnerettefirst engages the'roapplications e s j tors ,(point of initial stretching) to a maximum the description taken m conjunction distance adjacent a point where the loop underwith the p nying drawing, in which stretching) and then preferably decreases in the b yin the invention;

direction of the rotor ends (where the loop last Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the app m contacts the rotors in its travel to the collecting shown in Fig. 1;

device). The axes of rotation of the rotors may Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form 0! an upright supporting member l5.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Flg. 3; and

.Figs. 5, 6, and F illustrate various forms of. rotors adapted for the practice of the invention.

In general, the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawing comprises a spinnerette l positioned in an appropriate coagulating bath 2. The thread 3, consisting of a group of extruded and freshly coagulated filaments and the like, is passed upwardly and looped over the power-driven rotors (hereinafter described in detail) which are constructed and: arranged to cause the loop to progressively advance along the surfaces-thereof, forming in effect a. pluralityof loops-or slings comprising an initial stretching ioop 4, one or more intermediate loops 5, a maximum stretching loop 6, and one or more contraction loops 1. The thread 3 is then passed from the rotor on which it is last engaged through a winding guide l actuated by suitable mechanism H and wound on bobbin! 2 which is rotated by the gear-driven shaft I4 mounted upon Instead of using winding bobbins, other appropriate collecting devices may be used such, for example as spinning pots, etc.

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, each of the rotors 8 and 9 is provided with end flanges I6 and H (respectively) to prevent displacement of the thread, truncated conical sections l8 and IS, the smallest diarneters of which are adjacent the flanges l6 and i1, and reverse truncated conical sectiorm 2i and 22 tapering in the direction of their free ends .23 and 24, respectively. The rotors 8 and t are secured to the rotatably mounted and gear driven shafts 25 and 25, respectively, positioned above and in suitable proximity-to the spinnerette ,l.

The corresponding sections of the rotors 8 and s are preferably of similar diameter, and the rotors are rotated at substantially the same speed (R. P. M.) by suitable power means (not shown). In this adaptation of the invention the axes of rotors 8 and 9 are in parallel (horizontal) planes,

although not in the same vertical plane. Thus, the axis about which rotor 8 revolves deviates forwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1) with respect to the axis of rotation of rotor 9, thereby imparting a proper advancement of the loop or spacing of the several loops of thread. The rotor arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be mo dified, however, by mounting the rotors so that the axis of each diverges from parallel planes in the directionlof their conical end portions in a manner similar to the rotor mounting illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

In accordance with the preferred operations of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the thread 3 or the like is passed over the conical surface of the rotor 9 at a point adjacent the flange I1 and then over the conical surface of the rotor 8, thus the rotor 8 at a point of greater diameter than the point of initial contact with the conical surface of the' rotor 9.- Thus, the thread is stretched between its eontacts' with the-two rotors 3 and 8.

and the number of intermediate loops 5. Each successive loop on a larger diameter of contact imparts an added amount of stretching to the yarn, the final or maximum stretching occurring in 10033 6 where the thread contacts the rotor surfaces at substantially their points of maximum diameter.

It is advantageous that the thread is permitted to contract after the maximum desired stretching has been attained, and this is accomplished in accordance with the invention by forming one or more contraction loops 1 as desired over the reverse conical surfaces Zland 22. The final contraction loop I is preferably passed around the conical surface 2i of the rotor 8 last, and then upwardly through the winding guide ill and wound on the bobbin i2. Thus, the operation in its entirety effects a progressive and step-by-step stretching of the thread followed by a controlled (and progressive if desired) contraction.

The foremost part of the conical surface 28 (of rotor 8) may be used for collecting the thread while the filled collecting device (e. g. bobbin i2) is cloned, thus obviating threading-up of the retor pair after each dofl of the collectingv device.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, each of the rotors 30 and ti is provided with flanges 32 and 33 respectively, which prevent the thread 3 from becoming displaced, substantially cylindrical sections 34 and 35 and tapering end portions 36 and 31 in the form of truncated cones, respectively. These rotors are rotatably mounted upon the gear-driven shafts 38 and 39 mounted upon the upright supporting member is which is positioned above and in proximity to the spinnerette l. Corresponding sections of these rotors are of the same diameter and they are preferably rotated at substantially the same R. P. M. The shafts are so mounted that their axes diverge outwardly in the direction of the rotor end portions 36 and 3l,and one of the shafts (preferably the lovrer one 38) is inclined outwardly (as viewed in Fig. 3) from the vertical plane embracing the axis of shaft 39, for the purpose of advancing or spacing the loops of thread passed thereover.

In practicing the invention with the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3and s1 forthe progressive stretching and contraction of artificial silk, the thread 3 and the like extruded from the spinnerette I is passed upwardly and over the upper rotor 3i at a point adjacent the flange 33 and then downwardly and around the under portion of the rotor 30, thus forming the initial loop 4. The extent of divergence of the rotor axes coupled with the inclination of the axis of rotor 30 determines the extent of advancement and the amount of stretching of the thread.

As preferably constructed and arranged, the

rotors 30 and Eli cause the initial loop to advance in such manner as to form one or more intermediate loops 5 in engagement with the cylin drical surfaces of the rotors. As the looped thread advances along the rotors,-the maximum stretching is attained where the loop passes over the rotors at points where the distance between the opposite thread-contacting peripheral surfaces of the rotors is the greatest. The thread may be fed directly from the cylindrical surface of rotor 30 to the winding guide l0 and wound upon the collecting bobbin H, or it may be looped (loop 1) one or more times around the conically tapering end portions 36 and 3'! of rotors 30 and 3i, respectively, to permit the thread to contract between the rotors. The distance between the opposite thread-contacting peripheral surfaces of the conical end portions 36 and 31 decreases in the direction of their free ends and the thread is The rotors illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and '7 show,

by way of example, various forms of rotors adapted for practicing the invention.

The rotor shown in Fig. 5 has a flange 50, relatively small cylindrical section 5!, larger cylindrical section 52, maximum cylindrical section 53, and conically tapering end 54 in which is cut a groove 55'serving to facilitate the disposal of thread collected during the short dofilng period. The relative lengths, diameters, and number of the cylindrical sections are merely illustrative and other arrangements as to'number and relating proportions of the rotor sections may be made. When this type of rotor is employed, the successive loops of the thread are passed from cylinder to cylinder and thereby progressive increments of stretch are effected. The rotor shown in Fig. 6 comprises a fiange 51, intermediate truncated conical section 58 and reverse truncated conical section 59 of larger diameter.

The rotor shown in Fig. 7 comprises a flange 60, relatively small cylindrical section 6|, intermediate conical section 62 having a finely and their axes.

bluntly serrated surface to prevent lateral sliding of the thread loops and to increasethe grip of the thread on the rotors perpendicularly to The rotor is provided with a relatively large cylindrical section 63 merging at its respective ends with the intermediate conical section 82 and with a second conical section 64, having a groove therein for collecting thread during dofilng.

It is contemplated that any of the rotor surfaces of the various forms of rotors illustrated may be serrated asshown in Fig. 7 to prevent the lateral displacement of the thread and to increase the grip on the rotor.

In accordance with the invention, rayon and the like is stretched progressively or in relatively small increments to a desired maximum extent, thus improving uniformity of yarn propertles as influenced by substantial stretching.

' The loops prevent slipping of the thread on the rotor surfaces. The detrimental use of thread guides (such as rods. rollers, etc.) while stretching the thread under substantial tension is obviated. The thread may also be permitted to contract while under looping tension with resultant 1 improvements in the properties of the yarn. The

thread-stretching agencies of the invention are power-driven, thereby securing dependable (as well as adjustable) contact of friction between thread and rotated surfaces, and simultaneously obviating thread'guides, thereby definitely Pleventing adverse and irregular interference of the operation of substantial stretching upon the pre-- ceding step of filament extrusion and upon the subsequent step of thread collecting, essential for procuring products of uniform quality.

1. In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the combination with a spinnerette and a collecting device of a plurality of power-driven rotors over which the-thread is looped in its travel from the spinnerette to the collecting device, said rotors having serrated surfaces of conical form and being fixedly mounted in spaced relation to each other on separate shafts.

2. In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the combination with a spinnerette and a collecting device of a plurality of power-driven rotors over which the thread is looped in its travel from the spinnerette to the collecting de-' vice, and means on one of said rotors for collecting thread during clotting of said collecting device.

3. In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the combination with a spinnerette and a collecting device of a plurality of power-driven rotors over which the thread is looped in its travel from the spinnerette to the collecting device, each of said rotors having a plurality of. cylindrical sections of diflerent diameters and being mounted on a shaft the axis of which diverges with respect to one of the other shafts upon which another rotor is mounted.

4. In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the improvement which comprises two power driven shafts, the axes of which diverge and also embrace planes inclined to each other, and a rotor having a conical end section fixedly mounted on each shaft. 7

5. In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the combination with a spinnerette and a. collecting device of two power driven shafts, and a rotor fixedly mounted on each shaft,. each of said rotors having a flange at one end, a central cylindrical section and a conical section at the opposite end.

6.'In apparatus for spinning rayon and the like, the combination with a spinnerette and a collecting device of two power driven shafts, and a rotor mounted on one end-portion of each shaft, said shafts being so mounted that the distance between the axes thereof increases in the direction of the end-portions m which the rotors are mounted. each of said rotors having a fiange at one end, a central conical section the small diameter portion of which is adjacent the fiange and a second conical section tapering in the direction of the opposite end of the rotor and being driven by the shafts at the same peripheral speeds.

'7. In apparatus for'spinning rayon and the like, the combination with .a spinnerette and a collecting device of two power driven shafts, and 

